We usually do an interview or a guest blog for our featured Sunday authors, but my friend Christine Trent, who is scheduled to talk about her February book, By The King’s Design, today, wound up having family stuff (not family crisis–just stuff) that made it impossible.

Christine still wants to give away one signed copy of By The King’s Design to one lucky commenter, though. We’ll do the selection by Monday night.

Here’s the back cover blurb of By The King’s Design.

Annabelle “Belle” Stirling inherited the family draper shop from her late father, only to have it sabotaged by her ne’er-do-well brother, Wesley. Belle travels to London to seek redress, and while there, the Prince Regent, future King George IV, commissions her to provide fabrics for his Royal Pavilion. As Belle’s renown spreads, she meets handsome cabinetmaker Putnam Boyce, but worries that marriage will mean sacrificing her now flourishing shop. When Wesley plots to kidnap the newly crowned King, Belle finds herself entangled in a duplicitous world of shifting allegiances, where every choice could have unexpected consequences for her future, her safety, and her kingdom…

Read the Reviews:

The book’s greatest strength is its sympathetic and interesting heroine, who manages to be capable and indomitable without being anachronistic…a fine quiet evening read, with a rare Regency heroine who loves her work and does it well.–Publishers Weekly

Four Stars!
In the tradition of Rosalind Laker, Trent pens stories that illustrate the role women played in the world of art and commerce. She draws readers into the life of a 19th- century interior designer with an enticing backdrop of a love story between a strong woman and a man who is her equal.–RTBook Reviews

Want more?

Read the Excerpt!

And comment for a chance to win a copy!

Christine’s By The King’s Design, as do her other books, includes real historical figures–the Prince Regent, Jane Austen. What historical figure would you like to see in a historical book?

I’m on the downhill slide of my Marquess and Governess story and plan to finish by Friday. Last week on Diane’s Blog I listed various things I’ve researched for the story. Here are some more:

The Ring in Hyde Park
Title Names in The Incomplete Peerage
How to Speak English Like the Irish
Gunter’s Tea Shop
Floris Perfume Shop
Fencing Terms

Have you guessed the story yet?

(Wish me luck! I do want to finish this on time)

** The image is a Meissen porcelain figure dated 1772. If this were me, picture those bottles as Diet Coke.

Once in a while, I read customer reviews or get reader mail complaining about the level of sex in my books. I think this is partly my own fault, because I’ve written everything from the sweet traditional Regency (my first two stories) to my newest novella, which was originally targeted for Harlequin’s sexy Undone! line. It’s no wonder that readers who prefer just one heat level get confused.

But I’ve actually put a lot of thought into how to package my reissued stories. I want my covers to hint (though not scream) at the sensuality. I’ve also try to address this in the product descriptions I write (excerpt here).

LADY EM’S INDISCRETION is an original, sexy Regency novella (short story) by award-winning author Elena Greene. Length: about 13,000 words (7 chapters). Sensuality: Erotic. Lovemaking scenes are central to the story.

I didn’t originally call this story “erotic” because I’ve read erotic romances that are far edgier than this (bondage, multiple partners, etc…) I only updated it to “erotic” after several complaints. But I still get the occasional review that this novella has too much sex in it. Funny, they also sometimes complain that it is too short.

So while at a pub with friends last night, I wracked my brains and came up with a brilliant solution for helping readers find what they want.

I thought about the fact that I read all levels of romance, from sweet to erotic. Characterization and storytelling are what matter most. But it’s totally different when Buffalo chicken wings are concerned. “Mild” is too bland, “Hot” is too spicy and “Suicide” would probably kill me. So it’s always “Medium” for me.

Taking the chicken wing analogy to romance, romance novels could be categorized and labeled as follows:

Mild – things you can talk about at a PTA or church meeting
Medium – things you’ll admit having done
Hot – things you’ve actually done
Suicide – things that are fun to imagine but you’d probably never do

All we have to do is get bookstores and reviewers to buy into this. It should be a snap.

What do you think? How would you handle this?

Elena
www.elenagreene.com
www.facebook.com/ElenaGreene

Janet is still in the UK and will be back to Risky Regencies next week. So stay tuned for what witty, irreverent thing she’ll say next!

The Other Riskies

And the winner is……..

Kat!

Kat, email me at diane@dianegaston.com and let me know what kind of download you require for your free copy of A Breach of Promise. I’ll pass the information on to Victoria right away.

And many thanks to Victoria aka Emery for being our guest!

Diane